Stiq Figures: I actually enjoyed that boss fight edition

Designing final bosses has to be a hell of a challenge; incorporating the best elements from hours of gameplay and driving the story's conclusion, all while supplying a satisfying challenge fit for a finale? It's a tough balance to strike from a player's perspective, and as a result it feels commonplace to wonder if "that's really it?" after stomping down antagonists.

Recalling my personal experience, credit is due to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Sure, I was a younger, more-easily-intimidated Hero of Time when I first faced Ganondorf, but I fell for every moment of Ocarina's final encounter. Swells of pride from conquering my first adventure game's "final" moments were abruptly flushed with fear – facing further challenges was hugely intimidating, but I slowly learned to dodge and properly fight instead of leaning on bottled faeries. That last battle felt like a well-balanced exam, one that ensured I truly learned Ocarina's mechanics before letting me savor an ending scene sweetened by victory.

What qualifies as a great battle for me might conflict with your personal tastes, though. What seals the deal on a final fight for you? Do you hope for a brutally difficult foe that will take days of learning patterns to overcome? Do you appreciate left-field surprises, either in a narrative or gameplay sense? Tell us about the bosses that stand out from the pile of baddies you've bested over the years, right after you check this week's Japanese hardware sales after the break!